[1]SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Sarasota and Manatee counties will host the World Rowing Championships in 2017.

The sport’s governing body voted unanimously late Sunday in South Korea to award the event to the two Gulf Coast counties.

The event is expected to attract 100,000 visitors and it will be the first time in more than 20 years that the United States will host the championships.

Some 1,500 rowers from about 70 countries are expected to compete. About $40 million in public and private funds will be used to build the facilities needed for eight-day event, which will likely start during the last week of September.